Friday Music Guide: New Music From Joe Jonas, Reneé Rapp, Alex Warren & Jelly Roll and More

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26-05-2025

Billboard's Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday's most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
This week, Joe Jonas gives us a long-awaited solo project, Reneé Rapp returns on her own terms and Alex Warren is far from 'Ordinary.' Check out all of this week's picks below:
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Joe Jonas,
Fourteen years after the last album released under his own name, Joe Jonas is a lifetime (and several new hits) removed from the rhythmic pop of 2011's Fastlife, and that personal and artistic growth is the foundation of Music For People Who Believe in Love, an earnest and surprisingly personal pop-rock project that includes both radio fodder ('Honey Blonde,' 'Work It Out') and a few unexpected collaborations, like the touching family reflection 'Hey Beautiful' with Louane and Tiny Habits.
Reneé Rapp, 'Leave Me Alone'
Even if you didn't know that Reneé Rapp's 'Leave Me Alone' is the first taste of an upcoming sophomore album titled Bite Me, you could probably deduce that the riotous new single represents a new beginning for a singer-actress who's found her artistic footing: 'Leave Me Alone' has made headlines for the tossed-off lyric about The Sex Lives of College Girls, but the real story here is Rapp's embrace of slightly heavy guitar-rock, with the feedback buzzing as she forgoes all pop norms.
Alex Warren with Jelly Roll, 'Bloodline'
A lot is riding on 'Bloodline' for Alex Warren, considering that the song is his first new music since 'Ordinary' conquered the charts around the world — so to ensure that his next step forward was a successful one, the singer-songwriter tapped Jelly Roll, one of the more reliable presences in popular music, for a stomp-clap anthem with the same reassuring tone as Warren's current smash.
Burna Boy feat. Travis Scott, 'TaTaTa'
As Burna Boy preps for the July release of new album No Sign of Weakness, fans have been given a thumping new Travis Scott collaboration to kick off their summer: 'TaTaTa' is all slick rhymes and layered drums, with both MCs exuding star power and playing off of the beat by using the chorus as a percussive tool rather than a catchy refrain.
Jessie Murph feat. Sexyy Red, 'Blue Strips' remix
'Blue Strips' has been one of the surprise hits of the year, thanks in part to Jessie Murph's force of personality and a killer hook; now, Sexyy Red is jumping in on the fun, with a remix that actually shortens the song's length but makes room for the rapper to warble the chorus and drop vehicular ad-libs over the original track's still-simmering beat.
Karol G, 'Latina Foreva'
Karol G knows that summer is right around the corner, and 'Latina Foreva' functions as a warm-weather banger for the ladies: the superstar's first new single of 2025 celebrates femininity with a fierce reggaeton arrangement, as Karol sounds more than comfortable navigating the speed-ups and slowdowns of the production before letting the beat work its magic at the end of the track.
Rob49,
The viral hit 'WTHELLY' has earned New Orleans rapper Rob49 newfound attention in popular hip-hop after years of grinding on the edges, and Let Me Fly sounds like a well-time artistic triumph, brimming with unhinged energy from the ominous piano keys that open the 22-song project and stretched across various collaborations (Meek Mill, Fridayy, Sexyy Red and Quavo are among the guest list).
Editor's Pick: mgk, 'Cliche'
After dabbling in country-fried songwriting following his pop-punk pivot, The Artist Formerly Known as Machine Gun Kelly has located a sleek little intersection of the two sounds: 'Cliché,' along with its accompanying choreo-heavy music video, is an utterly charming new chapter in mgk's winding story, all Warped Tour-ready hooks and nervy energy aimed at those of us still blasting his Tickets to My Downfall hits on the regular.
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